Compass rule



1953 L. J. GORDON ETAL 2,648,131

Cpl/[PASS RULE Filed Nov. 23, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m a 100 72 5a 1 HTmm 9 f 3 1 mi 9 s6 66 a2 a4 a0 82 29 s 4 62 0mJK %7 07/0 v the device.

Patented Aug. 11, 1953 COMPASS RULE Louis J. Gordon and Louis Sheldon,Chicago, Ill. said Sheldon assignor to said Gordon Application November23, 1949, Serial No. 128,972 4 Claims. (01. ssn l This invention relatesto rules, compasses and the like, and concerns improvements in thesublect matter of Louis J. Gordon, Patent No.

2,438,337, dated March 23, 1948, entitled Combination Rule and Compass.

It is an object of our invention to provide a compass rule which may bemanufactured at substantially less cost than the device disclosed insaid patent.

Another object of our invention is to provide a compass rule soconstructed that the rule presents an unobstructed straight-edge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined compass andcaliper.

An additional object is to provide a device capable of use as a rule,compass and caliper.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

' Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a compass and caliper rule in accordancewith the invention and shown resting on a work sheet.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1,the slider being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of Fig. 4 is an enlargedsectional view taken as indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. l.

taken as indicated by the line ll-ll in Fig. 10.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, showing an illustrativeembodiment of the invention, there is indicated at 20 a rule bodypreferably formed of a. single piece of sheet aluminum or othersuitablematerial, having a closed center longitudinal slot 22 dividing the bodyessentially into two bars 24 and 26 having straight-edges 28 and 30, atwhich are provided scales 32"and 34, respectively, said bars beinginclined transversely from said slot as shown in Figs.'5, 6 and 8, sothat-the outer lower corner edges 36 of said bars define the bottom ofthe body, said slot accordingly being substantially elevated-from saidbottom. Preferably beyond one end 38 f the slot 22, the body 20 isformed with an aperture 40 for the reception of the point 4| ,of .apencil 42, the axis of said aperture intersecting the projected zeroline 44 of the scale 32, said zero line being preferably coincident withan end edge 45 of the body defining an end of .the straight-edge 28.body 20 has an extension 46 with an inner edge 41 in line with the zeroline 48 of the scale 34. The inner margins of the bars 24 and26,defining the sides of the slot-22, are bent upward to provide slotsides50 of increased height and upstanding tongues or lips 52. a

- 'A slider 54 is provided to slide in and along the slot 22 forpurposes which will appearhereinafter. The slider 54 comprises an upperframelike plate 56 which may be formed of sheet aluminum or othersuitable material and has mutually facing walls 58 preferably throughoutits length which slidably engage the lips 52. The plate 56 issubstantially C-shaped, with arms 60 and 62 and an intermediate portion64 connecting said arms at one end, the other ends of said arms beingconnected by a preferably relatively narrow strip 66 having a hole 68substantially at its center. over the slot 22, the plane of the axes ofsaid hole and the aperture 40 being preferably parallel to thestraight-edge 28. The axis of the hole 68 intersects the projected end10 of the plate arm 60, so that the distance of said axis from-the axisof the aperture" is measured along the straightedge 28 by said arm end.The outer edge 12 of the arm 60 is preferablyfiush with or spaced inwardfrom the straight-edge 28 in order not to interfere with the drawing ofa continuous line throughout the length of said straightedge. The arm 62may have an extension 14 withan edge 16 parallel to the edge 41 of thebody extension 46 and disposed adjacent the scale 34 so as to measurethe distance between said edges, saidextensions thereby serving asthrough a hole 88 in the plates bridge 64 and receiving a nut 92 whichmay be loosened to permit theslide '54 to be moved freely along the body20 and maybe tightened to clamp the slider at any desired position alongthe body.

'A pin 96 is disposed in the bridge hole 68and has a point 98 which isengageable with the work [OIL-for example .a sheet of paper or fabric-inresponse tov downward pressure on the pin head I02, said. pin, in theabsence of such pressure, being yieldably held in an elevated positionout of contact with the work by a spring I 04 disposed between the pinand the bridge 66. The bridge 66 ispreferably narrow and the plateopening-I06 is of substantialextent lengthwise of the slot 22, allowing.ample space to enable the user to sight the pinpoint 98 from both sidesI and thus enable him to locate the pinpoint with ease and'precision atany preselected point on" the work I 00.

Assuming it is desired to draw a circle of a predetermined radius ona'piece of work I00, it is necessary for the user merely to loosen thenut 92, slide the slider 54 until the end of the plate arm 60 is at thepredetermined position on the scale 32, tighten the nut 92, press easewith which the pinpoint 98 can be located in that center. The-slider 54is elevated above the bottom of thebody 20,- so that, when the pinpoint98 is depressed intov the work, the device is rotatable withsubstantially'no resistance. The slider is easily movable along the bodywithout resistance by'the work when the body rests thereon andthe'pinpoint is free of the work.

Various modifications may suggest-themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of our invention. Hence we do not wishto be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, excepttothe extent indicated in the appended claims.

"We claim:

1; A compass rule comprising a body having a straight longitudinalslotabove the bottom of said body and dividing said body into a pair ofbars, one of said bars having a ruled straight edge, a slider slidablykeyed to and carried by said body and comprising a plate having a bridgeextending over and across said slot and a pair of arms extending fromthe ends of said bridge and disposed beyond said slot and overlying saidbars, said bridge having a hole registering with said slot, said sliderincluding astud underlying said bus and having a'shank extending upwardthrough said slot and hole, said shank being threaded, a nut engagedwith said shank and engageable with the upper sideof said bridge andoperative to clamp said slider in'any desired fixed position relative tosaid body, a narrow second bridge extending above and across said slotandconnected' to said arms in substantially spaced relation to-thefirst-mentioned bridge, a pinhaving a center point and mounted in'andreadily visible below said second bridge over said slot and extending insaid slot and tomof said body and dividing said body into a pair of'bars, one of said bars having a ruled straight edge, a slider carriedby and slidably keyed to said body and comprising a member having abridge extending across 'saidslot and over said bars and arms disposedlaterally beyond said slot andover said bars, said bridge having ahole'registering with said'slot, a stud threaded shank extendingupwardly through said hole, a nut engaged with said shank and engageablewith the upper side of said bridge and operative to clamp said memberin'any desired fixed position relative to said body,- said member havinga narrow second bridge extending across saidslot and connected tosaidarms,

a center point mounted on thecenter-ofand being readily visiblebelowsaldsecond bridge and extending in said slot and depressible into engagementwith the work, said body having a pencil point receiving aperture at thezero line of said straight edge, said member cooperating with saidstraight edge to measure the distance between said aperture and saidpoint.

- '3. A compass rule comprising a body having a straight longitudinalslot spaced from the bottom of said body and dividing said body into apa'ir ofbars, one of said bars having a straight edge, a slider slidablykeyed to and carried by said body and comprising a plate'having abridgeextending over and across 'said'slotand a' pair' of arms extending'fromthe ends ofsaid-bridge and .overlying said bars, clamping meansassociated with said bridge forretainlng said slider-'ln 'anydesired-"position relative to' said body; a pinsupport'bracketcarried bysaidsli'der and having an opening'therein to receive a pin carried"ini'said opening and extending into said slot and having a center'pointdepressible into engagement with the work on whiclr'said rulerests, said support bracket being spaced from said bridge and above--said* slot whereby said center'po'int'of said pin is readilyvisiblejsaid body having a pencil'point having a head disposedunder-said'bars and a aperture "and said; pin being parallel to -saidstraightedge; and means on said slid'er coopcrating withsaid straightedgeformeas'uringthe distance between said axes.

4. A'com'pass rule'comprisinga bo'dy'h'aving a straight longitudinalslot spacedfromthebottom of said'body and dividing -saidibody into apair of barshavingparallelstraight edges, a slider slidably keyed "toand carried byfsaid body and comprising a'plate havinga'bridge extendingover and across said slot and a' 'palirof arms extending-the'reintoreceivefla 'pinya pin carried in (said-opening andwxtending'into saidslot and having a'center point :depressible' into'engagement with thework on which said rule rests", said support member i being spaced fromsaid bridge and substantially-f'above said slot whereby-"said 'centerpoint' of 'saidpin is 'readily visible, said body having a pencilpoint"receiving aperture, the plane "of the axes of 'sa'id aperture'and'said Spin being" parallerto 'said-straight edges," and =means' onsaid slider cooperating with" one ot said straight edges "'for measuringthe distance *between'said' axes. 1

LOUIS J. GORDON. LOUIS SHELDON.

'Refe'ren'ces Cited'in'the file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 776,897 Ferris- Dec. 6,- 1904 72,936 -Smith Oct.18.1910 1,327,154 ;-Golden ;Jan. 6,"1920 2,063,776 Wozny Dec. 8', 1936--2,400,40'7 Gordon May 14, 1946 2,438,337 Gordon "Mar. 23, 19482,542,537 Klemm L Feb. '20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date77,815 --Switzerland-- June M 1918

